She told DA that Officer Christopher Hays demanded oral sex from her

San Diego  A woman claiming to have been sexually assaulted by a San Diego police officer filed a criminal claim with the District Attorney’s Office, her attorney said Monday.

Attorney Dan Gilleon said his client, a 33-year-old single mother of two, recognized Officer Christopher Hays from news reports last week and called police on Friday to say the officer had forced her to perform oral sex on him in his patrol car after he gave her a ride home.

When police did not call her back on Friday, she contacted Gilleon at the urging of family members, the attorney said.

Gilleon’s client is one of six women to allege that Hays, 30, touched them in a sexual manner while on duty. Four of those women, all in their 20s or 30s, have said Hays patted them down improperly.

Police arrested Hays on Sunday on two felony counts of false imprisonment and three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery stemming from those four women. The married father of two was booked into jail and released on $130,000 bond.

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The woman who triggered the investigation into Hays came to police in December, the day after she said the officer responded to a domestic violence disturbance involving her in downtown San Diego. Hays offered to give her a ride home because she had been drinking, Police Chief Bill Lansdowne said last week.

She told police that Hays then came into her home and inappropriately frisked her, Lansdowne said.

After her complaint, the Police Department’s internal affairs unit reviewed every instance where Hays transported a woman, and that turned up three more alleged victims, the chief said. Hays has been with the department for four years.

Gilleon said on Monday that one of those women was a prostitute, and another was homeless.

In announcing Hays’ arrest on Sunday, Lansdowne said that the District Attorney’s Office was investigating additional claims against the officer by two more women, including Gilleon’s client, involving felony sexual contact. Police were led to the other woman as part of their investigation, the chief said.

San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne holds a news conference to announce that Officer Christopher Hays has been arrested on charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment.
— Howard Lipin

San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne holds a news conference to announce that Officer Christopher Hays has been arrested on charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment.
— Howard Lipin

As the internal investigation of Hays unfolded, he was relieved of his police duties and placed on paid administrative leave. With his arrest Sunday, police said he was put on unpaid leave.

Calls to his attorney have not been returned.

Police Lt. Kevin Mayer said that if Hays is charged with the counts he was arrested on, the officer faces up to 7½ years in prison.

Gilleon’s client alleges that she was driving with a friend in October 2012 when the friend’s car broke down and Hays came upon them.

Without elaborating further on the circumstances, Gilleon said Hays told his client she was in trouble.

“He convinced her that he could take her to jail,” the lawyer said.

Rather than risk incarceration, she accepted a ride home with Hays who then demanded oral sex when they arrived at her residence, Gilleon said.

The woman did not report the incident because she was scared and did not think anyone would believe her word over a police officer’s, the attorney said.

“She is not excited about the fact that she is having to share a very, very degrading and humiliating story,” Gilleon said. “This is very embarrassing for her.”

Gilleon also has sued the city on behalf of victims of San Diego police Officer Anthony Arevalos, who was convicted of eight felonies in 2012 stemming from traffic stops where he sexually assaulted and sought bribes from women.

Arevalos is serving eight years in prison but is trying to get a new trial.

Gilleon said he is surprised that the allegations against Hays stem from incidents that occurred when Arevalos was being prosecuted.

“It must’ve just been going right over his head how egregious this was, how impermissible this was,” Gilleon said.

Gilleon and others have questioned whether Hays was given special treatment because his father-in-law is Assistant Chief Mark Jones. Mayer, the department’s spokesman, defended how the chief has handled the Hays investigation.

“This case illustrates Chief Lansdowne does not tolerate this type of behavior with any of his personnel,” Mayer said. “It does not matter the rank of the officer or who the officer is related to. All employees are held to the same standard and the chief expects the highest degree of honesty, integrity and professionalism from all.”

The District Attorney’s Office is continuing to review the allegations against Hays, and no charges have been filed. His arraignment has been set for Feb. 18.